Nigeria military has started bombardment of bandits’ hideouts in forests.
Gatekeepers News reports that the military has commenced the bombardment of bandits’ hideouts in the North-West, North-Central and some parts of the North-East.
Top military officials, who confided in Punch correspondents, said the bombardment started in Katsina and Benue states.
They noted that it would soon be extended to other states in the zones.
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu, in an interview with the BBC in March, said the President had ordered crackdown on bandits terrorising farmers across the country.
Similarly, the President during his interview with Arise Television on Thursday, said he has ordered security agents to shoot bandits carrying AK47 and deal with them in the language they understand.
In Katsina State, The PUNCH gathered that the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and the police have increased attacks on the hideouts of bandits in various parts of the state especially in Batsari, Jibia, Sabuwa, Danmusa, Safana, Matazu, Kankara, Dandume, Dutsin-ma, Kurfi and Faskari local government areas, where bandits have been kidnapping farmers and other residents.
It quoted the military to have said, “We now carry out operations on identified bandits’ hideouts in the state virtually on a daily basis and at anytime.
“At times, when you see fighter jets flying, it is either we are launching an attack against bandits or we are carrying out mop up operations.
“We have carried out operations in the Sankera axis (of Benue State). That is the reason farmers can return to their homes and begin farming activities.”
When asked if state government could direct the military to help in sending troops to protect farmers, the source said, “We don’t take order from the state government. What we are doing is to send troops to flash points, like in Sankera axis, farmers are already going back to their farms.”
In Sokoto State, the police have intensified patrols of villages that are prone to bandits’ attacks.
